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Transforming Nonprofits Through Collaboration and Strategic Development

Driving long-term success with tailored support.

We help nonprofits & community organizations with

  • Systems Improvement

  • Staff Training

  • Organizational Development

  • New Business Development

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Our approach is rooted in trust, collaboration, and hands-on partnership.

We work closely with nonprofit leaders to co-create solutions that address immediate challenges while building the systems, strategies, and leadership capacity that drive sustainable success for years to come.

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Impact in Action

  • Working with Essence Consulting has played a critical role in enhancing our grants management system. I began transitioning our system from paper to an electronic format and collaborating with Chandra/Essence Consulting has enhanced this by upgrading it to a Smartsheet based system. It was a pleasure to work with her.

    — Kristin Coleman, MPH, Anne Arundel Department of Health

  • Our organization brought Essence on to assist with the departure of one of our founders, who had been the Executive Director. Breanna Rodriguez joined us as our Interim ED. She did a outstanding job of reviewing all of our policies and procedures, she worked effectively & caringly with our staff, and instituted many needed updates for the organization. All this helped improve our organization in advance of our new permanent Executive Director's arrival. Breanna also stayed on to assist with the new ED's onboarding, which was very valuable.

    — Board Member, Firebird Community Arts

  • Essence Consulting has been a trusted confidant for this Executive Director, in the realm of not-for-profit-leadership. I sincerely appreciate their collaborative approach. The entire staff thinks of them as part of our team.

    — Ed Pratt, Executive Director, Illinois Community for Displaced Immigrants (ICDI)

  • It has been a true pleasure partnering with Breanna Rodriguez as Interim ED throughout the search for the next Executive Director of Firebird Community Arts. We deeply valued her timely input, feedback, and steady interim leadership. Her commitment to the mission, staff, and thought partnership with the board has been evident every step of the way.  Her partnership has been instrumental to both our team and the Firebird ED Search Committee.

    — Rebeca Hernandez, Senior Search Associate, Koya Partners on behalf of Firebird Community Arts